Wedding Dress 101—A Style Guide to Finding Your Perfect Dress!

You’ve found the perfect wedding venue for all of your family and friends to gather and now what? Wedding dress shopping can be fun but it can also be very overwhelming. Especially with so many choices out there, you might wonder which dress is the right fit for you. It’s all about finding the best fit/style for you. Before you set foot in the store, you’ll want to have your wedding gown lingo down so you and your consultant are on the same page. Here’s a quick reference guide to help kick start your process. Happy Shopping!

Ball Gown: The true “princess” dress. The ball gown has a fitted bodice and a full skirt. Ideal for most body types, but ideal for slender or pear-shaped figures.

A-Line:  A-lines have fitted bodices through the waist and cascade out towards the ground, resembling the outline of an uppercase “A.” A great shape for all body types particularly those with larger busts.

Trumpet/Fit-and-Flare: Literally “fit-and-flare:” fitted through the body and flairs out just below the hips. This cut is between a modified A-line and a mermaid cut. Ideal for brides looking to accentuate a small waist.

Mermaid: Sleek and sexy. Contours to the body from the chest to the knee, and then flares out to the hem. Ideal for slender figures, both short and tall.

Sheath/Column: A narrow shape that flows straight down from the neckline to the hem. Ideal for lean figures, both short and tall. Also great for hourglasses who are looking to flaunt their curves!

Jumpsuit: A one-piece garment, with the bottom falling into either trousers or shorts. Great for all body types!